Judy Marcus - Memory Improvement Tips

Remember to Know your Focal Point, if you want to Remember to Focus

A funny thing happend on the way to writing this blogpost.  I got sidetracked.  Does this ever happen to you?

Here's how I pulled myself back in:  I took a deep breath (sorry loyal readers, but yes, I am mentioning that all important breath again.  In fact, there was a great article in Sunday, November 29, 2009's Chicago Tribune BY BOB CONDOR,  "BREATHE RIGHT AND MEDITATE - RESEARCH SHOWS DAILY ATTENTION TO MIND-BODY DYNAMIC REDUCES ANXIETY, STRENGTHENS IMMUNE SYSTEM".  Good stuff.  Google it if you are so inclined...)

As I was saying, I pulled myself back in with a breath.  Then, I asked myself, "What is your intention, Miss Judy Memory Lady?" (and then I started thinking about how I so quickly knew after three months of dating that I was going to marry Steve, and I wondered to myself, "What is your intention, Steve?"  And you can guess his intention because we're about to celebrate a lot of years of marriage, so my memory goes way back...)

"Alright, already", you're beginning to think, "Stop meandering Judy - FOCUS", and I did.  I took another breath, and realized that my attention was easily distracted because I had no roadmap to where I was headed.  

How can you find the light at the end of the tunnel when you don't know which tunnel you're traveling down? 

In a quick nutshell:  Think of the time I would have saved myself if only I had made a quick outline of what I wanted to say.  And then, should my mind wander, my breath could draw me back, and I would know just where I was headed, and then headed there. Don't you agree?  It's much easier to focus when you know your focal point.

Let's hear from you. 

WHAT ARE YOUR "I need to put more FOCUS in my life" STORIES?   Blog on and share your LOVE Memory Method stories as well. 

Blog on with your comments.  And forward this blog to as many friends and associates as you wish.  Hopefully they'll become Memory Tipsters as well. 

(Copyright - Judy Marcus - 2009)**********************************************************************************************************

Reprint Permission: You are welcome to reprint any items from the Memory Improvement Tips Blog.  However, please credit Judy Marcus, Memory Lady, as a source, with the following paragraph:

"Reprinted from the "Judy Marcus - Memory Lady - Memory Improvement Tips Blog",www.memory-improvement-tipster.com  Author of WHERE ARE MY KEYS?, Judy's blog features tips and strategies to take control of your memory and keep your brain strong."

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Create Breathing Space for a Better Memory

How often do you give yourself breathing space?

Breathing space is vital to our ability to function in all areas of life, including our ability to remember.  Yet, most of us live hectic, over-busy, over-multi-tasking lives.  Have you noticed how the cell phone follows us, even into the bathroom?

CBS Sunday Morning ran a segment on how we spend our Sundays, and included author Judith Shulevitz's statement that "we are on all the time" and suggested we spend one day a week for "time off" to reflect.

A whole day of rest and reflection each week sounds wonderful to me.  (I'm not making a religious statement here; that's not my department.  I'm simply talking about how to remember better.)

"Life is better when you trust your brain to remember."  You can quote me on that.

When it comes to "time off" from being frantic, frustrated, fragmented and forgetful -- one simple path to peace, calm, centeredness and brain reliability -- and to refocus our precious mental energy -- is to consciously create breathing space for ourselves every day, in both business and every day life.

Memory mishaps can be avoided just by taking a deep breath at every transition time.  One of the examples I suggest at my memory workshops is:  before you get out of the car, take a breath, and check to make sure you take the car keys with you.  The breath you take prevents you from locking the car door with the keys inside!

A worse case scenario is the man who locked his sleeping toddler in the car as he rushed to catch a train. True story.  Luckily, a happy ending.  A passer-by noticed the child, called the fire department, and the toddler was safely rescued.  I'm thinking the man will now - based on his experience - always take a deep breath and check the back seat of the car before locking the car door with his son inside!

Be pro-active.  

Why wait till you learn a lesson the hard way?  Memory mishaps can be prevented by taking a deep breath before switching activities.  The breath gives you time to reflect on what happens next.

Yes, it takes special effort to create breathing spaces throughout our hectic days -- each and every day.  And, I believe, you'll find it's worth it!

Let's hear from you. 

WHAT ARE YOUR "I need to create breathing space" STORIES?   Blog on and share your LOVE Memory Method stories. 

Blog on with your comments.  And forward this blog to as many friends and associates as you wish.  Hopefully they'll become Memory Tipsters as well. 

(Copyright - Judy Marcus - 2009)**********************************************************************************************************

Reprint Permission: You are welcome to reprint any items from the Memory Improvement Tips Blog.  However, please credit Judy Marcus, Memory Lady, as a source, with the following paragraph:

"Reprinted from the "Judy Marcus - Memory Lady - Memory Improvement Tips Blog",www.memory-improvement-tipster.com  Author of WHERE ARE MY KEYS?, Judy's blog features tips and strategies to take control of your memory and keep your brain strong."

Blog on with your comments.  And forward this blog to as many friends and associates as you wish.  Hopefully they'll become Memory Tipsters as well. 

(Copyright - Judy Marcus - 2009)**********************************************************************************************************

Reprint Permission: You are welcome to reprint any items from the Memory Improvement Tips Blog.  However, please credit Judy Marcus, Memory Lady, as a source, with the following paragraph:

"Reprinted from the "Judy Marcus - Memory Lady - Memory Improvement Tips Blog",www.memory-improvement-tipster.com  Author of WHERE ARE MY KEYS?, Judy's blog features tips and strategies to take control of your memory and keep your brain strong."

Don't Forget! Seven Tips to STOP Procrastinating and DO IT NOW.

How often do you find yourself wanting to do something, but instead, you set the desire aside so you can run off and do something else?  And then you forget what you originally wanted to accomplish? Or, it feels too overwhelming?  Or worse yet, it's too late? 

Before you beat yourself up with a wet noodle because:

... It's two months later and the credit card bill is unpaid and gathering interest... 

...Or the books are still "resting" on the floor ever since you emptied the shelves when you had this great inspiration that it would be easier to find what you wanted to read if only you sorted the titles into categories...

...Or you've been meaning to send New Cousin Jordan a baby gift and now you just found out he started Montessori preschool...

Here's a simple solution to end procrastination:

Do It Now!

1.  Decide:  Is this worth the time and effort?

2.  Only start if you can see it through.

3.  Itemize the task into small steps.

4.  Take out all the tools needed.

5.  Now, not later, sit down (or stand up) and do it.  

6.  Only stop when you're finished.

7.  Wear a smile.  You've earned it!

While the above might seem over-simple, it isn't.  The only way to stop procrastinating is to just do it now.

Then you won't forget!

Let's hear from you.  

WHAT ARE YOUR Procrastination or "just do it now" STORIES?  Have an acronym that works for you?  Blog on and share your LOVE Memory Method stories.

Blog on with your comments.  And forward this blog to as many friends and associates as you wish.  Hopefully they'll become Memory Tipsters as well. 

(Copyright - Judy Marcus - 2009)**********************************************************************************************************

Reprint Permission: You are welcome to reprint any items from the Memory Improvement Tips Blog.  However, please credit Judy Marcus, Memory Lady, as a source, with the following paragraph:

"Reprinted from the "Judy Marcus - Memory Lady - Memory Improvement Tips Blog",www.memory-improvement-tipster.com  Author of WHERE ARE MY KEYS?, Judy's blog features tips and strategies to take control of your memory and keep your brain strong."

WHAT ARE YOUR Procrastination or "just do it now" STORIES?  Have an acronym that works for you?  Blog on and share your LOVE Memory Method stories.

Blog on with your comments.  And forward this blog to as many friends and associates as you wish.  Hopefully they'll become Memory Tipsters as well. 

(Copyright - Judy Marcus - 2009)**********************************************************************************************************

Reprint Permission: You are welcome to reprint any items from the Memory Improvement Tips Blog.  However, please credit Judy Marcus, Memory Lady, as a source, with the following paragraph:

"Reprinted from the "Judy Marcus - Memory Lady - Memory Improvement Tips Blog",www.memory-improvement-tipster.com  Author of WHERE ARE MY KEYS?, Judy's blog features tips and strategies to take control of your memory and keep your brain strong."

What do the LOVE Memory Method, Obama's Reggie Love, and my cousin Fred's wife Janet have in common?

Wouldn't you LOVE to have a great memory?

President Obama doesn't need to remember where he put his jacket, pen, or list of phone numbers.  He uses Reggie Love, his personal aid, to remember for him.  See (On the Court and on the Trail, One Aide Looms Over Obama - NYTimes.com)

• Love is Obama's system of brain assurance.  This frees the President to spend his mental energy on important matters of State.    
• My cousin Fred uses his wife Janet, the woman he loves, to keep track of where he put his keys and other belongings. 
• In lieu of having a Reggie Love or a Cousin Janet on your memory team, here's another approach:

You, too, can use LOVE to remember - in both business and every day life. 

Just as "Kleenix" is the generic word for "tissue", 

I hope to see "LOVE" as the

 generic, household word for "remember." 

As in "LOVE where you park your car", or "LOVE the name of the book you're reading, or "LOVE your best friend's cellphone number just in case your speed-dial's not available. 

I'm talking about the four-step LOVE Memory Method.  It's an acronym I created - to make remembering unforgettable.  It works for me when I use it.  It works for countless people around the world, and it can work for you, too.  

The word LOVE is an acronym for the four actions you need to take to capture, record and recall anything and everything you choose to remember, instantly, upon demand.  It's easy to learn, fun to use, and best of all, it works.

     This method works for anything you actively choose to remember.  Next time you meet someone new, apply the four-step LOVE acronym: 

• Look:  See the face, listen to the name, use your finger to write the name in your palm. 
• Overstate:   Think something outrageous about their name, i.e.  Sherrie Wolf. Imagine Sherrie chugging a bottle of Sherry while riding on the back of a dancing wolf. 
• Visualize:  Picture the outrageous image in your mind's eye on the movie screen right inside your forehead.
• Engrave:  Repeat this movie image every twenty minutes until it's firmly stored in your brain.

Those of you reading this article who don't yet "remember with LOVE" 

• can see a longer explanation in the December, 2007 archives of this blog.  
• can go to my website or Amazon.com to order a copy of my book, WHERE ARE MY KEYS?  
• can invite me to speak in person at your next event.    

In this fast-paced world, where our minds are scattered in so many directions, we need to take control of our memory.  And, life's better when we trust our brain to remember.

Yes, you can trust your brain to remember what you choose to remember, when you take the time to remember with LOVE. 

Let's hear from you.  

WHAT ARE YOUR STORIES?  Blog on and share your LOVE Memory Method stories.

Blog on with your comments.  And forward this blog to as many friends and associates as you wish.  Hopefully they'll become Memory Tipsters as well. 

(Copyright - Judy Marcus - 2009)**********************************************************************************************************

Reprint Permission: You are welcome to reprint any items from the Memory Improvement Tips Blog.  However, please credit Judy Marcus, Memory Lady, as a source, with the following paragraph:

"Reprinted from the "Judy Marcus - Memory Lady - Memory Improvement Tips Blog",www.memory-improvement-tipster.com  Author of WHERE ARE MY KEYS?, Judy's blog features tips and strategies to take control of your memory and keep your brain strong."

WHAT ARE YOUR STORIES?  Blog on and share your LOVE Memory Method stories.

Blog on with your comments.  And forward this blog to as many friends and associates as you wish.  Hopefully they'll become Memory Tipsters as well. 

(Copyright - Judy Marcus - 2009)**********************************************************************************************************

Reprint Permission: You are welcome to reprint any items from the Memory Improvement Tips Blog.  However, please credit Judy Marcus, Memory Lady, as a source, with the following paragraph:

"Reprinted from the "Judy Marcus - Memory Lady - Memory Improvement Tips Blog",www.memory-improvement-tipster.com  Author of WHERE ARE MY KEYS?, Judy's blog features tips and strategies to take control of your memory and keep your brain strong."

Mindful Driving Makes for a Better Memory (and it's environmentally friendly too): Awareness is Easy - if you're willing to make the time and stay on task.

Ever wonder where the time has gone?  For most of us, life whizzes by because we're thinking of one thing while doing another.

Ever wonder how you got two roadways past your exit?  That's because we whizzed by our exit while our mind was on what we were going to say to our client when we called - or what we didn't say this morning to our friend - or our brain is mentally jumping like a grasshopper from chore to unfinished chore, worrying about our over-busy schedule.

Monkey mind, as the meditation gurus call it.  Chatter, chatter, chatter.  A wandering mind.  A busy mind.  An A.D.D. mind.  An over-multi-tasking mind.  WHOAH!!!!!

Take a deep breath.  It's time to quiet down and be mindful.

Being mindful means being aware of what you're doing at this very moment.   It's keeping all your senses in allignment -- on the present moment. 

Driving Mindfully: 

Set your intention.  When you're driving, before you head out, think of your destination and the route to get there.  And leave early enough to give yourself a driving time cushion to feel comfortable -unhurried - not rushed (This allows your finer self to come out and eliminates any potential road rage, plus giving you a more alert, relaxing, enjoyable experience.) 

Once you're on your way, look at where you're going, listen to the sounds of the traffic, feel the steering wheel under your hands, smell the heat or the air conditioning or the fresh air from the open window.  

And definitely think about HOW you are driving.

Are you driving safely?  Paying attention to the road?  Seat belt clicked?  Within the speed limit?

Is your driving environmentally friendly? Hypermiling is a word that's new to me.  It's a good one to add to your vocabulary.   

• It's about modifying your driving to improve mileage and reduce emissions.  
• It's about getting good gas mileage because you're slowing down as soon as you see the light turning red. 
• It's about replacing air in your tires - on-time car tune-ups - driving gently, not aggressively. 
• It also helps you keep your mind on the cars around you, which makes for safer, more alert driving.  
• And lets you remember where you are going and where to turn off.

And don't forget, once you turn off the motor, to ask yourself, "Where Are My Keys?" and "Where is my car parked?"

Let's hear from you.  Do you ever forget to turn off at your destination because your mind is wandering?  What do you do to drive mindfully?

WHAT ARE YOUR STORIES?  Blog on and share your driving mindfully stories.

Blog on with your comments.  And forward this blog to as many friends and associates as you wish.  Hopefully they'll become Memory Tipsters as well. 

(Copyright - Judy Marcus - 2009)**********************************************************************************************************

Reprint Permission: You are welcome to reprint any items from the Memory Improvement Tips Blog.  However, please credit Judy Marcus, Memory Lady, as a source, with the following paragraph:

Reprinted from the "Judy Marcus - Memory Lady - Memory Improvement Tips Blog",www.memory-improvement-tipster.com featuring tips and strategies to take control of your memory and keep your brain strong.

WHAT ARE YOUR STORIES?  Blog on and share your driving mindfully stories.

Blog on with your comments.  And forward this blog to as many friends and associates as you wish.  Hopefully they'll become Memory Tipsters as well. 

(Copyright - Judy Marcus - 2009)**********************************************************************************************************

Reprint Permission: You are welcome to reprint any items from the Memory Improvement Tips Blog.  However, please credit Judy Marcus, Memory Lady, as a source, with the following paragraph:

Reprinted from the "Judy Marcus - Memory Lady - Memory Improvement Tips Blog",www.memory-improvement-tipster.com featuring tips and strategies to take control of your memory and keep your brain strong.

Sprinkle Your Schedule with Time-outs to Remember. It's Brain-Friendly. You'll perk-up your energy. You'll feel joyful, reduce December Holiday stress, prevent over-multi-tasking paralysis. And you'll even remember better!

If you're like me, rushing through my day to accomplish almost all of what's on my to-do list (prioritized to make certain that the must-do's get done), then may I offer this suggestion of what I find absolutely necessary to stop and do in order to refresh and revitalize my self and smooth the way to continue on - energetically -with my tasks?

Whew!  That's a lot of words together.  Run-on.  Like my daily schedule.

So, here's an easy way to come up for air that's good for your memory - and lets you feel joyful, reduce stress, and prevent over-multi-tasking paralysis.  It's such a simple solution. It works for me.  And it can work for you, too.

Sprinkle memory breaks into your day.  Living in the present moment is important.  But that doesn't mean you have to forget what you want to remember about yesterday.  Before a memory evaporates, carve time-out of your day to reflect, remember and relish the good times.

Make time-outs to reminisce, especially when you're in the midst of hurry, scurry and bustle.  I know it makes me feel better when I take a break from whatever I'm doing - the more frenzied I am - the tighter the schedule crunches and accompanying hurricane whirlwinds when I start spinning my wheels - the more important and worthwhile it is for me to pry myself off the task at hand.

You certainly wouldn't lift weights without pausing to give your muscles time to relax and refresh.  So, give your schedule a pause as well.  It's actually more efficient to stop and take a few minutes to bask in the afterglow of a feel-good event.  A moment to remember...

Like, as you are gearing up for the December Holiday frenzy, take time to reflect about how you experienced Thanksgiving.  Bring in all your senses:  sight, sound, smell, taste, touch.

Do this:  Take a deep breath.  Breathe in the joyful memories chockfull of grateful abundance of family, friends, and food.  Can you remember - with love - with a smile on your face along with laughter in your heart - the events of Thanksgiving just past?

Some of the benefits:  You'll reduce blood pressure, re-oxygenate your entire body, and revitalize your energy.  A deep breath and a happy memory can do all that and more!

I realize that experiences differ - even people sitting at the same table can walk away with a different impression of the event.  Hopefully for you, this is a year when the good times rush in like a waterfall.  Otherwise, dig as deep as you must until you find the peaceful moments that are keepers.  Or be the alchemist who turns bad times into good - just by making a shift in your attitude.

Savor in gratitude.  Appreciate.  Count your blessings for all the trimmings that accompany Turkey-day -- our national winter holiday appetizer - which opens the door to December's mixed bag of joyous cheer and over-busyness.

Create breathing space by taking time to appreciate and celebrate the kernels of joy in your life.  It will make you feel joyful, reduce stress, and prevent over-multi-tasking paralysis.

Here's wishing for you that your Holiday festivities are filled with an abundance of joyful memories.  And that you enjoy many moments of pleasure as you recognize, reflect and remember those special times in your life.

Don't forget!

WHAT ARE YOUR STORIES?  Blog on and share your memory stories.

Blog on with your comments.  And forward this blog to as many friends and associates as you wish.  Hopefully they'll become Memory Tipsters as well. (Copyright - Judy Marcus - 2008)**********************************************************************************************************

Reprint Permission: You are welcome to reprint any items from the Memory Improvement Tips Blog.  However, please credit Judy Marcus, Memory Lady, as a source, with the following paragraph:

Reprinted from the "Judy Marcus - Memory Lady - Memory Improvement Tips Blog",www.memory-improvement-tipster.com featuring tips and strategies to take control of your memory and keep your brain strong.

Can't find your glasses? Or your wallet? Or your keys? Try this Brain-Friendly Lifestyle Strategy to keep yourself Calm and Stress-Free

A Reader From Texas writes:

PROBLEM:  This afternoon, it couldn't be helped.  I coudn't find my sun glass magnetic clip-ons.  I kept driving while my older daughter searched my purse.  Then I found them on my lap.  They fell there and how would I know!?!  In the meantime, it was very frustrating...so I don't know how to be cool during the search.

The Memory Lady responds:

Dear Hot and Frustrated in Texas:

Time doesn't care how you use it. The clock keeps on ticking.  Consistently.  No matter whether you're searching for an item you lost due to not paying attention to where you put it, or whether, like in this case, you wasted time searching for your magnetic glass clip which just - unnoticeably - fell into your lap.

A nano-second is a nano-second.  It's out of our control to change the pace of the clock.  Tick-tock.  Tick-tock.  What is in our control is how we react emotionally.

Steam happens when we lose our cool.  A little bit is good.  It gets us moving to search for the lost item.  Too Much steam, and we can flip our lid.

SOLUTION:  While searching for a lost item, don't forget to stop and take a deep breath.  This simple memory strategy helps you to keep your cool and prevent the panic from taking over. 

Think of breath as an interior fan with a built-in thermostat that keeps your blood pressure down, your system oxygenated, and your mental stress protectors from overheating due to frustration.

Whenever you are on the spectrum of the "why can't I find it?" blues, once the search is on, here is a sure-fire way to control the steam and nip frustration in the bud.

Take a deep breath.  Next, state what you're looking for.  In a positive way.  That's right, say it out loud:  "I'm looking for my magnetic glass clips."  Then just keep alternating the breath and the statement while you look.  The odds are with you that in this relaxed mode you'll find them.  You might even be able to laugh at yourself (always a good thing to do).

Whether they show up or not, you'll feel better, both physically and emotionally, by keeping your cool.

SIMILAR STORIES:  Hot and Frustrated in Texas' story triggers a memory of a dinner party at my house when we spent five minutes looking for our guest's black framed glasses before someone noticed the glasses were hooked onto her black shirt.  And that reminds me of another incident...

WHAT ARE YOUR STORIES?  Blog on and share your memory stories.

Blog on with your comments.  And forward this blog to as many friends and associates as you wish.  Hopefully they'll become Memory Tipsters as well. (Copyright - Judy Marcus - 2008)**********************************************************************************************************

Reprint Permission: You are welcome to reprint any items from the Memory Improvement Tips Blog.  However, please credit Judy Marcus, Memory Lady, as a source, with the following paragraph:

Reprinted from the "Judy Marcus - Memory Lady - Memory Improvement Tips Blog", www.memory-improvement-tipster.com featuring tips and strategies to take control of your memory and keep your brain strong.

Reinvent Your Self Image to Include a Strong Memory

If you think you are -- then you are.  So, starting right this minute, begin to think of yourself as a person with a great memory.

Why Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin are good role models for memory training

Weren't they wonderful to watch?  Focused, on track, knowing exactly what they wanted to do -- and then doing it!  Wow!  Each event...What a performance!!!!!

As I cheered for Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin, I couldn't help but wear my "Memory Lady Hat" filter.  It goes with me almost everywhere I go. 

So, here are two main connections I saw between the Olympian gymnists and the art of having a good memory:

First of all, the most important part of memory begins with paying attention to what you choose to remember.  Imagine if Shawn or Nastia were thinking of how badly they wanted to win, or started daydreaming of how exciting it will be to bring home the "gold" -- letting their mind wander to anything other than the task at hand.  OOOPS.....

Secondly, there's no resting on your laurels, either in Olympic competition or in important situations in business or everyday life.  Just as Shawn and Nastia had to approach each event with the knowledge that even though they did well in the past, the only thing that counted in the current performance was precisely that -- the current performance.  Well, that's how we have to face every day in the tasks we deem important, A-1 priority. 

For example, some people might leave the house with their kitchen cabinets open; others would never dream of doing anything other than closing the cabinets as soon as they take out what they want.  That choice is personal opinion and a matter of housekeeping.

On the other hand, it's NEVER safe to leave the house without unplugging the coffee pot.  Nor do you want to be like the man who forgot that he placed his baby in the car seat on top of the car, and with the baby still on top of the car, drove away (a true story - luckilly the baby wasn't hurt).

So in the transition times throughout your day, before you leave the house, before you leave your car, when you first get to the office, etc., be like Shawn and Nastia.  Stop, take a deep breath, think of what you need to do -- and then, do it!  - Don't forget!

Blog on with your comments.  And forward this blog to as many friends and associates as you wish.  Hopefully they'll become Memory Tipsters as well. (Copyright - Judy Marcus - 2008)**********************************************************************************************************

Reprint Permission: You are welcome to reprint any items from the Memory Improvement Tips Blog.  However, please credit Judy Marcus, Memory Lady, as a source, with the following paragraph:

Reprinted from the "Judy Marcus - Memory Lady - Memory Improvement Tips Blog", www.memory-improvement-tipster.com featuring tips and strategies to take control of your memory and keep your brain strong.